Legalon 70 is a medicine acting on the liver - Reinforces the regenerative capacity and functional efficiency of the liver. Most oral steroids are potentially toxic to the liver , even short durations can see elevated levels of toxins in the liver. Legalon 70 will help to detoxify and protect the liver , ultimately making the use of oral steroids safer for the liver. Legalon® is the outcome of several decades of intensive research by Madaus. It is entirely of plant origin and is manufactured in the form of a dry extract from the fruits of the milk thistle. The active ingredient is silymarin, with its principal active component silibinin. Extensive research into this extract over the last 20 years has conclusively proved that this extract is beneficial in protecting and detoxifying the liver. 1 capsule contains: 86.5 - 93.3 mg dry extract from milk thistle fruits (36-44:1) equivalent to 70 mg silymarin, Other ingredients: mannitol, sodium carboxymethyl starch, polysorbate 80, polyvidone, magnesium stearate, gelatin, titanium dioxide E171, ferric oxide E172, dodecyl sodium sulphate Legalon® 70 Capsules, unless your doctor has directed otherwise, should be taken in a dose of 2 capsules 3 times daily when starting treatment and also in serious cases. A maintenance dose of 1 capsule 3 times daily is recommended. The capsules should be swallowed whole with a small amount of liquid. Legalon® is a medicine of plant origin. Its active ingredient is extracted from the milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Medicines of plant origin are in general well tolerated, and this is certainly true of Legalon®. It has been employed for the treatment of liver diseases for almost 30 years. As regards side effects, a mild laxative action has occasionally been noted. Legalon® can be taken before meals. This has the advantage that the active agent, known as silymarin, is more quickly absorbed into the body and can act more rapidly and effectively. Should any gastrointestinal problems occur, however, you can take Legalon® during or after meals

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A literature review in Germany noted that Legalon is the best documented agent for the treatment of toxic liver impairment (Morazzani and Bombardelli, 1995). These authors also reviewed studies which suggest future use in dermatological and cosmetic products, based on a number of activities including promoting healing at wound sites, improved burn healing, and counteracting skin degeneration and aging via anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging mechanisms. A more recent review concluded that despite some flaws in methodology of some of the clinical studies, LegalonA? has not demonstrated adverse side effects and it "may be effective in improving the clinical courses of both acute and chronic viral, drug- and toxin-induced and alcoholic hepatitis" (Flora et al., 1998).

Because the well-documented antioxidant activity of silymarin has been shown to prevent lipoperoxidative hepatic damage by xenobiotic compounds (e.g., alcohol and certain pharmaceutical drugs), researchers attempted to determine whether milk thistle would be helpful for patients being administered psychotropic drugs. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the efficacy of silymarin was evaluated in patients receiving psychotropic drugs as long-term therapy (Palasciano et al., 1994). Sixty women in the psychiatric ward of an Italian hospital were selected for the trial, all having been treated with either phenothiazines and/or butyrophenones for at least five years. They were randomly divided into four groups, with the silymarin patients receiving 800 mg a day for 90 days. Results showed that 800 mg/day of silymarin may be useful in the treatment of some instances of lipoperoxidative hepatic damage, such as the damage that may occur during long-term treatment with the psychotropic drugs.

Milk thistle extract has become increasingly popular in the United States as a dietary supplement for people with livers compromised by alcohol or exposure to toxic chemicals. Based on the increasing number of clinical studies indicating its safety and suggesting efficacy, consumers are also using this preparation as a means to ensure proper liver function and to assist in "detoxification" measures. Given this phytomedicine"s well established safety and its reasonable documentation of efficacy, future clinical use of milk thistle extract should be explored as an adjunct therapy in chemotherapy to help offset the effects of powerful and potentially hepatotoxic conventional drugs.

U.S. pharmacopeial grade milk thistle consists of the dried ripe fruit of S. marianum with its pappus removed. It must contain not less than 2% of silymarin, calculated as silybin, as determined by a USP spectrophotometric assay method. Botanical identification must be confirmed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and macroscopic and microscopic examinations (USP 24a??NF 19, 1999). German pharmacopeial grade milk thistle also consists of the ripe fruit with the pappus removed. However, it must contain not less than 1.5% silymarin, calculated as silybin with reference to the dried drug. Total silymarin must be determined by a liquid chromatagraphic method (DAB method V.6.20.4). Botanical identity must be confirmed by TLC, macroscopic and microscopic examinations, and organoleptic evaluations. For example, the seed husk should have a bitter taste while the seed has an oleaginous taste, and it may not smell or taste rancid (DAB, 1997). The German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia monograph requires that it contain not less than 1% of silymarin, calculated as silybin (GHP, 1993).